I know that it sounds stupid, but his lifelong girlfriend/wife cheated on him w/ one of his best friends. It basically coincided w/ the 2001 season. He lost focus and basically and determination to come to the ballpark. He has never been the same.

foulballstrike3 wrote:I know that it sounds stupid, but his lifelong girlfriend/wife cheated on him w/ one of his best friends. It basically coincided w/ the 2001 season. He lost focus and basically and determination to come to the ballpark. He has never been the same.

I see nothing of the sort in the original post, or even so much as a hint of it, so why try to instigate a problem over something that isn't there?

Anyway, back to the topic, as to big years with nothing else really, just look at Brady Anderson (50 homers one year, next high 24), Luis Gonzalez (57 homers one season, no others higher than 31), and Adrian Beltre (48 next high 25) for starters. Odd things happen.

Yes doctor, I am sick.Sick of those who are spineless.Sick of those who feel self-entitled.Sick of those who are hypocrites.Yes doctor, an army is forming.Yes doctor, there will be a war.Yes doctor, there will be blood.....

foulballstrike3 wrote:I know that it sounds stupid, but his lifelong girlfriend/wife cheated on him w/ one of his best friends. It basically coincided w/ the 2001 season. He lost focus and basically and determination to come to the ballpark. He has never been the same.

When did this happen? Link?

It mentions nothing of the sort in my above link about his wife cheating on him. I'm a huge supporter of Erstad (I realize he is brutal nowadays), and it was spread all over the local media in his home state.

It's not like it really came out of the blue... he had approached 20 homers before a few times, and while that's not much, he probably just got lucky in 2000. A few doubles turn into home runs, a few nice hot streaks.

If he would have hit 40 in 2000, that would have been really odd. But 25 seems reasonable.

"Oh, that Lankford and McGee, the trio of 'em. They're a one-man wrecking crew."